Virginia Law

The term of confinement in a local or state correctional facility for the commission of a crime shall commence and be computed from the date of the final judgment, which, in case of an appeal, shall be that of the refusal of a writ of error or the affirmance of the judgment. When it is ordered that two or more terms of confinement run concurrently, then such terms of confinement shall commence and be computed from the time the first of such terms of confinement commenced.

For the purpose of determining allowances for good conduct, the term of confinement of a person convicted of a felony and sentenced to the Department whose sentence is partially suspended shall be that portion of the sentence which was not suspended.

Code 1950, §§ 53-207, 53-272; 1954, c. 141; 1956, c. 342; 1958, c. 468; 1962, c. 327; 1976, c. 145; 1982, c. 636.

Any person who is sentenced to a term of confinement in a correctional facility shall have deducted from any such term all time actually spent by the person in a state hospital for examination purposes or treatment prior to trial, in a state or local correctional facility awaiting trial or pending an appeal, or in a juvenile detention facility awaiting trial for an offense for which, upon conviction, such juvenile is sentenced to an adult correctional facility. Such credit for time shall include any time spent in pretrial confinement or detention on separate, dismissed, or nolle prosequi charges that are from the same act as the violation for which the person is convicted and sentenced to a term of confinement. When entering the final order in any such case, the court shall provide that the person so convicted be given credit for the time so spent.

In no case shall a person be allowed credit for time not actually spent in confinement or in detention. In no case is a person on bail to be regarded as in confinement for the purposes of this statute. No such credit shall be given to any person who escapes from a state or local correctional facility or is absent without leave from a juvenile detention facility.

Any person sentenced to confinement in a correctional facility, in whose case the final order entered by the court in which he was convicted fails to provide for the credit authorized by this section, shall nevertheless receive credit for the time so spent in a correctional facility. Such allowance of credit shall be in addition to the good conduct allowance provided for in §§ 53.1-116 and 53.1-129, Articles 2 (§ 53.1-192 et seq.) and 3 (§ 53.1-198 et seq.) or the earned sentence credits provided for in Article 4 (§ 53.1-202.2 et seq.).

Code 1950, § 53-208; 1968, c. 105; 1970, c. 648; 1982, c. 636; 1984, c. 313; 1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2022, c. 399.

The Director shall keep a record of the conduct of each person confined in a state correctional facility. Each time any prisoner in a state correctional facility is punished, the name of the offender, the offense, the time when the offense was committed, and when and what disciplinary action was taken or sentence was imposed, shall be recorded in a register.

Code 1950, §§ 53-209, 53-215; 1982, c. 636.

A. Except for credits allowed under § 53.1-191, all or any part of a person's accrued good conduct allowance and earned sentence credits earned after admission to a state correctional facility on any sentence or combination of sentences being served may be forfeited in accordance with rules and regulations of the Director for violation of any written prison rules or regulations.

B. If a prisoner is convicted of escape or attempted escape from any correctional facility, such person shall, upon being returned to custody, forfeit all accrued good conduct allowance and all earned sentence credits on any sentence or combination of sentences being served, except for credits allowed under § 53.1-191.

C. No good conduct allowance or earned sentence credit which has been forfeited shall be restored except by the Director, whose authority shall not be delegated.

Code 1950, § 53-214; 1974, c. 69; 1980, c. 485; 1981, c. 392; 1982, c. 636; 1984, c. 734; 1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2020, c. 759.

The Director, upon the release of a prisoner who has served at least eight months, shall give the prisoner all funds accumulated to his credit pursuant to §§ 53.1-42 and 53.1-43 and not withdrawn by him. In the event such funds do not total twenty-five dollars, the Director may add sufficient money from the appropriation to the Department to enable the prisoner to have a minimum of twenty-five dollars available for withdrawal by him at the time of his release. The Director also may provide such person upon his request with transportation to the county or city where he was committed, or to such other point in the Commonwealth as may be approved by the Director. Such person may also be furnished suitable clothing.

Code 1950, § 53-219; 1964, c. 421; 1970, c. 648; 1982, c. 636.

The Director, with the consent of the Governor, may allow to any prisoner confined in a state correctional facility a credit toward his term of confinement if he (i) renders assistance in preventing the escape of another prisoner or in the apprehension of an escaped prisoner; (ii) gives a blood donation to another prisoner; (iii) voluntarily or at the instance of a prison official renders other extraordinary services; or (iv) suffers bodily injury while in the prison system. The Director shall determine the amount of any such credit for each such service or injury. In unusual circumstances a prisoner may receive credit for donating blood, under regulations prescribed by the Director, to blood banks licensed by or subject to regulations of the State Board of Health. The Director may allow the credit permitted by this section to a prisoner who has been sentenced to the Department of Corrections but who is confined in a local correctional facility.

Except as provided hereafter, any credit allowed under the provisions of this section shall be applied as provided in § 53.1-199. A prisoner who has been sentenced to a term of life imprisonment or to two or more life sentences shall be eligible for credits allowed under the provisions of this section. One-half of such credit shall be applied to reduce the period of time such prisoner shall serve before being eligible for parole.

Credits allowed under the provisions of this section may not be forfeited under § 53.1-189. Credits shall not be allowed under the provisions of this section to apply toward a term of confinement imposed upon a conviction of a felony offense committed on or after January 1, 1995.

Code 1950, § 53-220; 1952, c. 8; 1976, c. 209; 1981, c. 392; 1982, c. 636; 1984, c. 253; 1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2002, c. 59; 2020, c. 759.

The provisions of this article shall be applicable only to those persons who were convicted, sentenced and committed to the Department prior to July 1, 1981, and who, in accordance with § 53.1-198, are not governed by the system of good conduct allowances established in Article 3 (§ 53.1-198 et seq.) of this chapter.

1982, c. 636.

Every person convicted of a felony before October 1, 1942, except those referenced in § 53.1-194, shall, for every month that he is held in confinement after June 24, 1944, in any state correctional facility, without violating any prison rule or regulation, be allowed a credit of thirty days upon the total term of confinement to which he has been sentenced, in addition to the time he actually serves. Any credit allowed under the provisions of this section shall also be considered as reducing the term of imprisonment to which the prisoner was or is sentenced for the purpose of determining his eligibility for parole.

Code 1950, § 53-210; 1979, c. 415; 1982, c. 636.

Every person convicted of a felony before October 1, 1942, who had once before been convicted of a felony and regularly discharged from the state corrections system, or who, prior to June 24, 1944, had been returned to a state correctional facility for violating the terms of a conditional pardon, or who had been convicted of a crime while serving his sentence in a state correctional facility, or who had escaped or attempted to escape from a state correctional facility or from a local correctional facility while awaiting trial or transfer to a state correctional facility, shall, for every month he is confined in any state correctional facility after such date, without violating any prison rule or regulation, be allowed a credit of fifteen days upon the total term of confinement to which he has been sentenced, in addition to the time he actually serves. Every person convicted of a felony before October 1, 1942, who is returned thereafter to a state correctional facility for violating the terms of a conditional pardon, or who commits a crime while serving his sentence in a state correctional facility, or who escapes or attempts to escape from a state correctional facility, shall, for every twenty days he is held in confinement after his return to a state correctional facility or after the commission of such crime, or after such escape or attempted escape, without violating any prison rule or regulation, be allowed a credit of only ten days upon the total term of confinement to which he has been sentenced, in addition to the time he actually serves.

Any credit allowed under the provisions of this section shall also be considered as reducing the term of imprisonment to which the prisoner was or is sentenced for the purpose of determining his eligibility for parole.

So much of an order of any court contrary to the provisions of this section shall be deemed null and void.

Code 1950, § 53-211; 1952, c. 142; 1979, c. 415; 1982, c. 636.

Such credit as any person may have earned pursuant to § 53.1-193 or § 53.1-194 and not forfeited prior to June 24, 1944, shall remain to his credit, unless forfeited as hereinafter provided.

Code 1950, § 53-212; 1982, c. 636.

Every person convicted of a felony on or after October 1, 1942 and every person convicted of a misdemeanor and confined in any state correctional facility shall, for every twenty days of confinement after sentence, either in a local correctional facility awaiting transfer to the Department or in any state correctional facility serving the sentence imposed upon him, without violation of any written jail or prison rule or regulation, be allowed a credit of ten days upon his total term of confinement to which he has been sentenced, in addition to the time he actually serves. So much of the credit allowed to misdemeanants by this section as applies to time served prior to June 24, 1944, shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any credit they may have earned under the law as it existed prior to such date.

Any credit allowed under the provisions of this section shall also be considered as reducing the term of imprisonment to which the prisoner was or is sentenced for the purpose of determining his eligibility for parole.

So much of an order of any court contrary to the provisions of this section shall be deemed null and void.

Code 1950, § 53-213; 1970, c. 648; 1972, c. 487; 1973, c. 208; 1974, c. 533; 1977, c. 182; 1982, c. 636.

Every person sentenced to the Department, while in a local or state correctional facility, who participates in career and technical education or other training while confined, or who shows such interest and application in his work assignment as to exhibit unusual progress toward rehabilitation, may, in the discretion of the Director be allowed a credit toward his parole eligibility date and upon the total term of confinement to which he has been sentenced. Such credit may be from one day to five days for each month he has been engaged in such career and technical education or other training or has applied himself in excess of minimal work assignment requirements. Any credit accumulated prior to June 1, 1975, toward the term of confinement may, in the discretion of the Director, be credited toward such prisoner's parole eligibility date.

Code 1950, § 53-213.1; 1968, c. 302; 1973, c. 204; 1975, c. 244; 1976, c. 180; 1982, c. 636; 2001, c. 483.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any sentence imposed upon a conviction of a felony offense committed on or after January 1, 1995.

1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2.

Every person who, on or before June 30, 1981, was convicted of a felony and every person convicted of a misdemeanor, and to whom the provisions of §§ 53.1-151, 53.1-152 or § 53.1-153 apply, may choose the system of good conduct allowances established in §§ 53.1-199 through 53.1-202 to govern the computing of his discharge date and eligibility for parole. A person who chooses the system established in this article may not thereafter be governed by the laws establishing good conduct allowances in effect prior to July 1, 1981.

Code 1950, § 53-209.1; 1981, c. 392; 1982, c. 636.

Every person who, on or after July 1, 1981, has been convicted of a felony and every person convicted of a misdemeanor and to whom the provisions of §§ 53.1-151, 53.1-152 or § 53.1-153 apply, and every person who, in accordance with § 53.1-198, chooses the system of good conduct allowances set out herein, may be entitled to good conduct allowance not to exceed the amount set forth in § 53.1-201. Such good conduct allowance shall be applied to reduce the person's maximum term of confinement while he is confined in any state correctional facility. One-half of the credit allowed under the provisions of § 53.1-201 shall be applied to reduce the period of time a person shall serve before being eligible for parole.

Any person who, on or after July 1, 1993, has been sentenced upon a conviction of murder in the first degree, rape in violation of § 18.2-61, forcible sodomy, animate or inanimate object sexual penetration or aggravated sexual battery and any person who has been sentenced to a term of life imprisonment or two or more life sentences shall be classified within the system established by § 53.1-201. Such person shall be eligible for no more than ten days good conduct credit for each thirty days served, regardless of the class to which he is assigned. One-half of such credit shall be applied to reduce the period of time he shall serve before being eligible for parole. Additional good conduct credits may be approved by the Director for such persons in accordance with § 53.1-191.

Code 1950, § 53-209.2; 1981, c. 392; 1982, c. 636; 1993, c. 491; 2020, c. 759.

Regulations approved by the Director shall govern the earning of good conduct allowance. The regulations shall require, as a condition for earning the allowance, that a prisoner participate in an appropriate educational, training, work, counseling or substance abuse program or other program intended for his rehabilitation, as provided in § 53.1-32.1. The amount of good conduct allowance to be credited to those persons eligible therefor shall be based upon compliance with written prison rules or regulations; a demonstration of responsibility in the performance of assignments; and a demonstration of a desire for self-improvement.

Code 1950, § 53-209.3; 1981, c. 392; 1982, c. 636; 1994, c. 582; 2020, c. 759.

Good conduct allowances shall be based upon a four-level classification system. Such system shall be established as follows:

1. Class I at a rate of thirty days credit for each thirty days served. Class I shall be reserved for persons whose initiative, conduct and performance in their assignments are exemplary. Consideration for Class I credit shall be given to persons who perform in assignments requiring a high degree of trust, extra long hours or specialized skills.

2. Class II at a rate of twenty days credit for each thirty days served. Class II shall be reserved for persons whose initiative, conduct and performance in their assignments are satisfactory. Consideration for Class II credit shall be given to persons who require moderate supervision in their assignments and whose assignments require responsibility in the care and maintenance of property.

3. Class III at a rate of ten days credit for each thirty days served. Class III shall be reserved for persons whose conduct and performance in their assignments are marginal. Persons requiring intensive supervision in their assignments and exhibiting minor disciplinary problems may be assigned to Class III.

4. Class IV at a rate of no credit for each thirty days served. Class IV shall be reserved for persons who are in isolation or segregation status for disciplinary or security reasons and persons whose conduct and performance in their assignments are so unsatisfactory as to eliminate consideration for good conduct allowance.

Persons may be reclassified for an increase or decrease in class according to rules and regulations established pursuant to § 53.1-200.

Code 1950, § 53-209.4; 1981, c. 392; 1982, c. 636.

Upon receipt by the Department, persons who have been confined while awaiting transfer to a state correctional facility shall be credited with such time as is certified to the Department in accordance with §§ 53.1-116 and 53.1-129 and as is otherwise provided by law. Certified good conduct allowance shall be applied to reduce the person's maximum term of confinement, and one-half of such credit shall be applied to reduce the period of time the person shall serve before being eligible for parole.

After admission to a state correctional facility, a person shall be credited at the rate of fifteen days for each thirty days of time served with satisfactory conduct. The person shall remain in this credit level until classified in accordance with § 53.1-201.

Code 1950, § 53-209.5; 1981, c. 392; 1982, c. 636.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any sentence imposed upon a conviction of a felony offense committed on or after January 1, 1995.

1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2.

A. Every person who is convicted of a felony offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, and who is sentenced to serve a term of incarceration in a state or local correctional facility shall be eligible to earn sentence credits in the manner prescribed by this article. Such eligibility shall commence upon the person's incarceration in any correctional facility following entry of a final order of conviction by the committing court. As used in this chapter, "sentence credit" and "earned sentence credit" mean deductions from a person's term of confinement earned through adherence to rules prescribed pursuant to § 53.1-25, through program participation as required by §§ 53.1-32.1 and 53.1-202.3, and by meeting such other requirements as may be established by law or regulation. One earned sentence credit shall equal a deduction of one day from a person's term of incarceration.

B. A juvenile convicted as an adult and sentenced as a serious juvenile offender under clause (i) of subdivision A 1 of § 16.1-272 shall be eligible to earn sentence credits for the portion of the sentence served with the Department of Juvenile Justice in the manner prescribed by this article. Consideration for earned sentence credits shall require adherence to the facility's rules and the juvenile's progress toward treatment goals and objectives while sentenced as a serious juvenile offender under § 16.1-285.1.

1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2008, c. 517.

A. A maximum of 4.5 sentence credits may be earned for each 30 days served on a sentence for a conviction for any offense of:

1. A Class 1 felony;

2. Solicitation to commit murder under § 18.2-29 or any violation of § 18.2-32, 18.2-32.1, 18.2-32.2, or 18.2-33;

3. Any violation of § 18.2-40 or 18.2-45;

4. Any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-46.5, of subsection D of § 18.2-46.5 if the death of any person results from providing any material support, or of subsection A of § 18.2-46.6;

5. Any kidnapping or abduction felony under Article 3 (§ 18.2-47 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;

6. Any malicious felonious assault or malicious bodily wounding under Article 4 (§ 18.2-51 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2, any violation of § 18.2-51.6 or 18.2-51.7, or any felony violation of § 18.2-57.2;

7. Any felony violation of § 18.2-60.3;

8. Any felony violation of § 16.1-253.2 or 18.2-60.4;

9. Robbery under § 18.2-58 or carjacking under § 18.2-58.1;

10. Criminal sexual assault punishable as a felony under Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;

11. Any violation of § 18.2-90;

12. Any violation of § 18.2-289 or subsection A of § 18.2-300;

13. Any felony offense in Article 3 (§ 18.2-346 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2;

14. Any felony offense in Article 4 (§ 18.2-362 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, except for a violation of § 18.2-362 or subsection B or C of § 18.2-371.1;

15. Any felony offense in Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, except for a violation of subsection A of § 18.2-374.1:1;

16. Any violation of subsection F of § 3.2-6570, any felony violation of § 18.2-128, or any violation of § 18.2-481, 37.2-917, 37.2-918, 40.1-100.2, or 40.1-103; or

17. A second or subsequent violation of the following offenses, in any combination, when such offenses were not part of a common act, transaction, or scheme and such person has been at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction:

a. Any felony violation of § 3.2-6571;

b. Voluntary manslaughter under Article 1 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;

c. Any violation of § 18.2-41 or felony violation of § 18.2-42.1;

d. Any violation of subsection B, C, or D of § 18.2-46.5 or § 18.2-46.7;

e. Any violation of § 18.2-51 when done unlawfully but not maliciously, § 18.2-51.1 when done unlawfully but not maliciously, or § 18.2-54.1 or 18.2-54.2;

f. Arson in violation of § 18.2-77 when the structure burned was occupied or a Class 3 felony violation of § 18.2-79;

g. Any violation of § 18.2-89 or 18.2-92;

h. Any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-374.1:1;

i. Any violation of § 18.2-423, 18.2-423.01, 18.2-423.1, 18.2-423.2, or 18.2-433.2; or

j. Any violation of subdivision E 2 of § 40.1-29.

The earning of sentence credits shall be conditioned, in part, upon full participation in and cooperation with programs to which a person is assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1.

B. For any offense other than those enumerated in subsection A for which sentence credits may be earned, earned sentence credits shall be awarded and calculated using the following four-level classification system:

1. Level I. For persons receiving Level I sentence credits, 15 days shall be deducted from the person's sentence for every 30 days served. Level I sentence credits shall be awarded to persons who participate in and cooperate with all programs to which the person is assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1 and who have no more than one minor correctional infraction and no serious correctional infractions as established by the Department's policies or procedures.

2. Level II. For persons receiving Level II sentence credits, 7.5 days shall be deducted from the person's sentence for every 30 days served. Level II sentence credits shall be awarded to persons who participate in and cooperate with all programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums to which the person is assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1, but who require improvement in not more than one area as established by the Department's policies or procedures.

3. Level III. For persons receiving Level III sentence credits, 3.5 days shall be deducted from the person's sentence for every 30 days served. Level III sentence credits shall be awarded to persons who participate in and cooperate with all programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums to which the person is assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1, but who require significant improvement in two or more areas as established by the Department's policies or procedures.

4. Level IV. No sentence credits shall be awarded to persons classified in Level IV. A person will be classified in Level IV if that person willfully fails to participate in or cooperate with all programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums to which the person is assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1 or that person causes substantial security or operational problems at the correctional facility as established by the Department's policies or procedures.

C. A person's classification level under subsection B shall be reviewed at least once annually, and the classification level may be adjusted based upon that person's participation in and cooperation with programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1. A person's classification and calculation of earned sentence credits shall not be lowered or withheld due to a lack of programming, educational, or employment opportunities at the correctional facility at which the person is confined. Records from this review, including an explanation of the reasons why a person's classification level was or was not adjusted, shall be maintained in the person's correctional file.

D. A person's classification level under subsection B may be immediately reviewed and adjusted following removal from a program, job assignment, or educational curriculum that was assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1 for disciplinary or noncompliance reasons.

E. A person may appeal a reclassification determination under subsection C or D in the manner set forth in the grievance procedure established by the Director pursuant to his powers and duties as set forth in § 53.1-10.

F. For a juvenile sentenced to serve a portion of his sentence as a serious juvenile offender under § 16.1-285.1, consideration for earning sentence credits shall be conditioned, in part, upon full participation in and cooperation with programs afforded to the juvenile during that portion of the sentence. The Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide a report that describes the juvenile's adherence to the facility's rules and the juvenile's progress toward treatment goals and objectives while sentenced as a serious juvenile offender under § 16.1-285.1.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no portion of any sentence credits earned shall be applied to reduce the period of time a person must serve before becoming eligible for parole upon any sentence.

1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2008, c. 517; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 50, 52; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 389; 2024, cc. 161, 162.

The Director shall:

1. Establish the criteria upon which a person shall be deemed to have earned sentence credits;

2. Establish the bases upon which earned sentence credits may be forfeited;

3. Establish the number of earned sentence credits which will be forfeited for violations of various (i) institutional rules, (ii) program participation requirements or (iii) other requirements for the retention of sentence credits; and

4. Establish such additional requirements for the earning of sentence credits as may be deemed advisable and as are consistent with the purposes of this article.

1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2020, c. 759.

The Department shall ensure that educational, vocational, counseling, and substance abuse programs for earning sentence credits are available at all state correctional facilities.

2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 50, 52.